The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has declared an imminent reduction in flights across 40 airports starting this Friday, in a move that is expected to cause significant disruptions in air travel during the current government shutdown. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced a 10 percent slowdown that will affect major transportation hubs in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Washington DC.
The decision, revealed on Wednesday, comes as air traffic controllers have been working without pay since the shutdown commenced on October 1. The workload has intensified, with most controllers enduring six-day weeks and mandatory overtime, leading to heightened stress and fatigue within the workforce. Bedford, during the announcement, conveyed the unprecedented nature of the situation, stating, "We're in new territory in terms of government shutdowns," and acknowledging the absence of historical precedent for such measures in his 35-year aviation career.
The impact of these cuts is substantial. Aviation analytics firm Cirium projects the elimination of roughly 1,800 flights, totaling an estimated 268,000 seats. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, for example, might see 121 of its 1,212 scheduled flights for Friday canceled, assuming the FAA distributes reductions evenly among the affected airports.
Industry experts are sounding alarms over the potential fallout. Henry Harteveldt, an airline industry analyst, described the expected outcome as "an unholy mess" if the planned cuts proceed. The FAA's decision was influenced by voluntary safety reports from pilots citing growing fatigue among air traffic controllers and increasing staffing pressures. Some controllers have already been calling out, taking second jobs, or struggling with expenses for childcare or commuting, resulting in sporadic flight delays at numerous airports.
Bedford emphasized the proactive stance of the FAA, insisting that safety risks will not be ignored. "We're not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself," he stated, assuring that the system will remain safe and additional measures will be taken if necessary.
Data since the shutdown began shows an average of 26.2 facilities reporting potential staffing issues during weekend periods, a significant increase from the 8.3 average between January and September. Major airlines are now scrambling to adjust their schedules with minimal notice. United CEO Scott Kirby has communicated to employees that cuts will focus on regional routes and non-hub flights, sparing long-haul international and hub-to-hub services.
United, Southwest, and American airlines have all announced their intentions to minimize the impact on consumers while adhering to the FAA's directive. In a statement on social media, United also offered refunds to all customers, regardless of whether their flights are affected, and is working to provide schedule updates well in advance.
The government's handling of the announcement has been criticized by Harteveldt, who pointed out the insufficient time given to airlines to rework their schedules. He also speculated that the Trump administration might be leveraging aviation safety concerns to prompt negotiations in Washington to end the shutdown.
